The first car resulting from BMW and Toyota technology sharing will be... the next generation Z4 - Supra as well?

The first car resulting from BMW and Toyota technology sharing will be... the next generation Z4 - Supra as well?

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The first car resulting from BMW and Toyota technology sharing will be... the next generation Z4 - Supra as well?

Now, what BMW is bringing to the table is their engines as well as the lightweight materials from the BMW i brand. They are trying to make this car very, very light. Toyota is expected to contribute compact next generation plug-in hybrid technology. The Toyota version is expected to use the BMW engine but have its own styling. The new Supra will be a bargain badged Z4? Not exactly what Toyota fans have had in mind.

Regardless, here is what you can expect, “And even with that type of construction, you can expect a sticker price around the same as that of the current Z4. No more than $70,000. For the new Z4 and its Toyota cousin, the potential for an engine no bigger than a 2.0 liter is very high. Add the new Toyota hybrid unit to that 2.0 liter and you have a potent powertrain with superb mileage and clean emissions.”

The new Z4 is expected to be a lightweight plug-in hybrid using Toyota hybrid technology with BMW i lightweight chassis parts sporting a 2.0 liter motor. Yes, this does sound pretty damn lame but it is the future whether BimmerBoost likes it or not.

It is somewhat amusing that this car will have a larger gasoline motor than the BMW i8 hybrid sports car that is more than twice the price.

The return of the Supra will have only the BMW developed chassis, Toyota is going it alone on the rest of the Supra.

The replacement for the E89 Z4 (09-15) will be a return to the Z3. It will not have a Retractable Hardtop (RHT), but a return to a fabric top. This will save weight and also bring back a more focused driving experience. An M Roadster will be on offer two years after the Z3 launch.

Contrary to other reports, Toyota is not assisting BMW AG with development of the new roadster. BMW gets a new chassis for a new roadster and coupe. Toyota gets a chassis for the Supra and new roadster.

Toyota really wanted BMW's diesel technology because Europe is not liking their engines. So with the agreement, Toyota gets world-class diesel engines without the staggering development and manufacturing costs.

So the agreement is really about diesel engines, BMW chassis development and very little Toyota hybrid technology for BMW cars and SAV's.

The return of the Supra will have only the BMW developed chassis, Toyota is going it alone on the rest of the Supra.

The replacement for the E89 Z4 (09-15) will be a return to the Z3. It will not have a Retractable Hardtop (RHT), but a return to a fabric top. This will save weight and also bring back a more focused driving experience. An M Roadster will be on offer two years after the Z3 launch.

Contrary to other reports, Toyota is not assisting BMW AG with development of the new roadster. BMW gets a new chassis for a new roadster and coupe. Toyota gets a chassis for the Supra and new roadster.

Toyota really wanted BMW's diesel technology because Europe is not liking their engines. So with the agreement, Toyota gets world-class diesel engines without the staggering development and manufacturing costs.

So the agreement is really about diesel engines, BMW chassis development and very little Toyota hybrid technology for BMW cars and SAV's.

There's a lot of speculation at this point.

I've heard Toyota may do a separate car from this that is the Supra and this car may become something else entirely. Who knows, we'll see.